The History of Kratom: A Quick Peek at All You Need to Know

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For those who are already familiar or simply curious about Mitragyna Speciosa (kratom), a plant closely related in chemical makeup to the coffee plant…have you ever explored the botanical’s fascinating history?

To those who are just beginning to research the herb that hails from Southeast Asia, you’ll soon see that it helps droves of people. Kratom consumers come from all walks of life, and say the herb helps with everything from energy levels, to aiding with anxiety, aches, and pains.

So what is the actual history of the beloved leaf, and where does it originate? Let’s take a look at the winding road it’s been to get to where we are today!

Discovery & Legal Evolution of Kratom

It was the year 1839, when Botanist Peter Korthals became the first person to report the use of kratom in Thailand. It is thought to have originated many moons before, as the Dayak tribe of Borneo is thought to have reaped the plant’s benefits dating back hundreds of years.

With over 9600 plant varieties and more than 400 tribes in Indonesia that utilize plants and natural healing, it comes as no surprise that the country boasts the largest tribe biodiversity on the planet. Not only do natives of the land respect their botanicals, but they depend on them for medicinal and trade purposes, among other uses.

Kratom Legality Comes Under Scrutiny 1943-1979

Most of our readers know that 2016 brought on one of the biggest threats on kratom to date, as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) tried banning the herb on a national level. The agency was falsely blaming kratom on numerous deaths, which were later attributed to other causes, including, for example, cadavers that were wrought with such deadly combinations as methamphetamine and Fentanyl.

While kratom has only recently garnered attention and popularity among millions of Americans, the herb’s run-in with legal issues first came nearly 80 years ago.

In 1943, Thailand passed Kratom Act 2486, banning the planting of kratom trees on grounds that it was interfering with the opium trade. The country was losing revenue on opium taxes, since kratom trees were already growing naturally in the region, and anyone could grow a kratom tree without having to pay a tax. People were forced to take down their beautiful kratom trees, and banned from planting anymore. You read that right. The botanical was never banned because it was causing harm to people, but for monetary reasons, which appears to be the same predicament kratom largely faces to this day.

In 1964, Smith, Kline & French Laboratories secured a patent on Speciofoline, an alkaloid specific to kratom. The patent made claims that “ [Speciofoline] alkaloid has useful pharmacodynamic activity, particularly analgetic and antitussive activity.”

In 1979 Thailand officially moved kratom, along with marijuana, to Category V (based on five categories, with five being the least restrictive and punitive) under the Narcotics Act B.E. 2522. Also included within the category was opium and hallucinogenic mushrooms. This category required that any existing kratom trees be taken down, also making it illegal to consume, purchase, sell or harvest the botanical.

It is thought that natives were keen on finding ways around this, much like people in the United States continually use marijuana, despite it still being illegal at the Federal level.

The Saga Continues, & Milestones Are Made

In 1993, Burma followed in Thailand’s footsteps regarding kratom, placing a similar ban on the plant. Also that year, Malaysia added kratom to its 1952 Poison Act, although this was heavily focused on the possession and trade of the herb, versus cultivation and consumption.

The first anecdotal reports of kratom being purchased in American markets began to emerge from about 1980-1990, and by the mid-1990’s, kratom could be found in smoke shops across the country. Unfortunately, some individuals decided it would be a good idea to adulterate kratom products in order to increase profit margins. This led to the DEA issuing a warning in 2005.

Fear-Mongering 2009: Officials Make False Claims that Kratom Alone Kills People

Further prompting the fear-mongering attempts by governmental entities came in 2009, when nine people in Sweden died after using adulterated kratom. The product was labeled “Krypton,” which contained what proved to be deadly levels of a prescription medication known as Tramadol. Government officials were quick to blame kratom, and the industry still struggles today due to shifting blame to the plant.

This isn’t rocket science, folks. The blame should’ve only ever been put where it belonged, with the pharmaceutical, Tramadol, that the herb was adulterated with. You could compare this to keeping Tylenol (generic form is called aceteminophen) on the shelves despite numerous deaths and calls to poison control centers. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH):

Acetaminophen overdose is the leading cause for calls to Poison Control Centers (>100,000/year) and accounts for more than 56,000 emergency room visits, 2,600 hospitalizations, and an estimated 458 deaths due to acute liver failure each year.

You read that correctly. The government is actually trying to convince its constituents that NINE deaths, not even due to kratom, calls for the heinous actions they’ve taken. I think it’s clear where this is going, as it all comes down to monetization.

Further using the nine people as fuel for their “fight” against kratom, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued an import alert on all kratom products entering the country, resulting in an astonishing seizure of over $5 million in product.

2013: Wisconsin Becomes First State to Make Kratom Illegal 

In 2013, Wisconsin, known for some of the strictest laws in the country when speaking of other natural products such as cannabis, unsurprisingly became the first state to ban both the use and sale of kratom. The plant was placed into Schedule I controlled substances, right alongside actual unsafe drugs such as heroin and crack cocaine. You will face the same charges as possessing heroin in Wisconsin if you are caught with kratom, which hasn’t been proven to kill even one person in its raw and pure form.

2014: The American Kratom Association Is Formed

In 2014, the American Kratom Association (AKA), a non-profit agency, was formed to advocate/lobby for the botanical’s legality, and to dispel misinformation and myths surrounding kratom in its natural state.

In August 2016, the DEA announced their intent to ban kratom with the Federal Register based on recommendations by the FDA. However, by September kratom advocates officially made their voices heard, with Congress sending a letter to the DEA requesting that the herb not be banned. Over 145,000 signatures were collected by kratom advocates within mere days!

2018 to Present: A Light at the End of the Tunnel?

 In 2018, The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) awarded $3.5 million to the University of Florida through a grant in order to study kratom. Also in 2018, Tennessee officially became the first state to effectively overturn a kratom ban.

Utah soon followed suit, becoming the first state to pass the Kratom Consumer Protection Act (KCPA). This bill aims to protect kratom consumers, while requiring vendors to put kratom through strict testing and safety protocols. Six other states have also reversed bans at the time of publishing.

Change Begins, Leaving Kratom Advocates with Newfound Hope

In August of 2021, Thailand legalized kratom, which effectively erased upwards of 10,000 criminal records in the country. This also led to the release of approximately 1,000 inmates in the country; whose only crime was cultivating and reaping the benefits of an organic herb. Impoverished farmers rejoiced in the news, excited to build their economy once again! Locals believe kratom should be celebrated, rather than being deceptively frowned upon.

2021 received even better news for kratom advocates when the World Health Organization (WHO) was requested by the FDA to review the safety of the botanical. This made the year the most profound and hopeful to date. The WHO concluded, in part:

The WHO’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence concludes that “there is insufficient evidence to recommend a critical review of kratom mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine.”

Keep the Momentum Going, Kratom Advocates!

There you have it, the history of kratom. However, don’t get too excited. Advocates should still remain vigilant in their fight, because it’s when you’re not looking that the government seems to love trying to slip something past its constintuents (take the “emergency ban” from 2016, for example).